4 killed in shooting rampage at Chicago hospital

World

A doctor was shot dead by a gunman outside a Chicago hospital on Monday before storming the facility and killing a pharmaceutical assistant and a police officer during an exchange of gunfire and dying in the rampage, officials said.

The shooter knew the doctor he shot outside Mercy Hospital, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a news conference, describing that initial killing as an act of domestic violence.

The shooting resulted in doctors and patients streaming out of the facility, some with their hands up as heavily armed police officers sought to secure the hospital.

“The city of Chicago lost a doctor, a pharmaceutical assistant and a police officer, all going about their day, all doing what they love,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told reporters.

“This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and consequence of evil,” Emanuel said.

After he killed the doctor, the gunman then fired at arriving police officers with a single handgun, Johnson said.

The gunman whose identity has not yet been revealed then burst into the hospital, officers followed him inside and exchanged gunfire with him for a couple of minutes, Johnson said.

Officer Samuel Jimenez, who joined the Chicago police force last year, is the officer who died during the gun fight, officials said. The 28 year old was married with children and the second Chicago officer killed in the line of duty this year.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that all of those officers who responded were heroes and they saved a lot of lives, because we just don’t know how much damage he (the gunman) was prepared to do,” Johnson said.

The doctor who was killed outside the hospital has been revealed as Tamara O’Neal.

The gunman also died but it is not yet clear whether he shot himself or was struck by a police officer’s bullet, Johnson said.

Another officer was spared injury when a bullet lodged itself in his holster.

 

Reuters

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